Hybrid heart surgery gives new life to a four-and-a-half-year-old child

In a rare and life-saving feat, a complex hybrid heart surgery has been done successfully on a four-a-half-year-old girl, who was diagnosed with a hole in her heart just two months after birth. This intricate and multidisciplinary procedure has been rarely performed in India.

Akash and Mamta Maurya, residents of Kandivali, were overjoyed at the birth of their baby girl Saanvi in 2021. Everything appeared normal at first, but just 10 days after her birth, the parents noticed rapid breathing. Concerned, they took her to a nearby doctor, who, after a thorough examination, the 2D Echo test confirmed that their baby had a hole in her heart. Doctors at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children found a large, difficult-to-reach hole in her heart ( Ventricular Septal Defect ), which was causing severe heart failure. She struggled to breathe, couldn’t feed properly, and wasn’t growing. Her condition was life-threatening, but she was too fragile to undergo a major open-heart surgery at that stage. To stabilize her at the age of three and a half months, doctors performed a temporary PA banding surgery that helped reduce the stress on her heart and allowed her to grow stronger.

The hole in her heart made everyday life a constant struggle as she would get tired even with minimal activity and couldn’t play or run around like other kids her age. Most of her time was spent indoors, under constant care and supervision. She required regular check-ups, medications, and close monitoring. Her parents were emotionally shattered, watching her miss out on the joys of childhood. All they wished for was to see their daughter laugh, play, and live freely like any other child.

As the child grew and turned four-and-half years old, so did the possibility of a permanent fix. However, the surgery required was high-risk and would usually last 7–8 hours with extended recovery time. In an innovative move, the doctors opted for a hybrid procedure, combining catheter-based and open-heart techniques. Using advanced transesophageal echo guidance during surgery, a device was inserted directly into the heart to close the VSD, followed by surgical enlargement of the pulmonary artery. This approach reduced the total surgery time to just 2.5–3 hours, improving recovery and saving the life of the baby.

If left untreated, VSD complications can lead to severe heart failure, stunted growth, and breathing difficulties. In critical cases, it can become life-threatening for the child. "This was an extremely rare and technically demanding case due to the complex structure of the hole in the heart. A pure open-heart approach would have meant longer surgery, greater trauma, and slower recovery. When the child turned four-and-half years old, by choosing a hybrid route, we were able to reduce surgical impact and offer faster healing. The reduced surgical impact made a huge difference, allowing us to achieve the same successful outcome with less stress on the body. However, it’s important to note that Hybrid VSD Device closure + PA (Pulmonary Artery) Augmentation, on Bypass is suitable only for selected patients, as not all cases allow for device closure. Recovery from a long open-heart procedure requires 5 to 7 days in the ICU. But in this case, the baby was stable and is recovering well. The surgery was done in the last week of March and the child was discharged on April 5. She is achieving developmental milestones as per her age and is accepting feeds now," the hospital said.

Dr Biswa Panda, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon said, “Periventricular VSD closures like this occur in only about one in a lakh open-heart surgeries. VSD closures themselves are uncommon in children, and performing them through a hybrid approach is even rarer. Such a complex hybrid surgery typically happens only once every 4 to 5 years. Such a procedure is only possible when there is perfect coordination between skilled teams, modern infrastructure, and precise imaging technologies.”

“This case of Periventricular VHD Device Closure is a proud example of how Wadia Hospital is equipped to handle even the most critical pediatric emergencies. With state-of-the-art facilities and a multidisciplinary team under one roof, we ensure children receive world-class care when they need it most. These extraordinary procedures highlight our mission to deliver cutting-edge care while never losing sight of empathy," underscored Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO of Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital For Children.

The child’s father Akash Maurya was overwhelmed with gratitude, and shared, “Seeing our daughter struggle every single day was heartbreaking. She couldn’t play, she would tire easily, and most of her time was spent indoors while other children ran around freely. We felt helpless as parents, watching her miss out on a normal childhood. But this surgery gave her a second chance at life. Today, seeing her breathe with ease, smile without pain, and talk excitedly about going to school and playing with friends is a dream come true. We will forever be grateful to the doctors for giving our little girl the life she truly deserves.”